Looking to replace your garage door?
Then the first thing you need to do is check how large your garage door is. This will dictate a lot of things about the door you get, such as where you get it from, and how much you have to pay.
Here are the standard residential garage door sizes, along with how to measure your door to get the right fit.
What Are Standard Residential Garage Door Sizes?
Many homes use standard garage doors, designed to allow most regular cars to pass through them. A single standard garage door measures around 8 to 9 feet wide, and 7 to 8 feet high. In a new construction home, those standard doors have actually become slightly larger. In these cases, the door will be 9 x 7 feet but can be as wide as 10 feet to accommodate modern cars.
What about double garage doors? These are usually 16 feet wide, and 7 to 8 feet high. If you use a standard double garage door, you’ll have the option to add a pair of single 8-foot garage door bays, which will be separated by a post. This isn’t something that’s structurally necessary, but it may be something you want to improve the curb appeal of your home. That’s something that you will need to discuss with your garage door installer.
So, what
When Will You Need A Custom Garage Door?
These are the most typical standard garage door sizes, and if you measure your door and find they’re the same size, then you’re good to go. If the sizes don’t match up, then you’re going to need a custom garage door.
These are most commonly used for drivers that need larger doors to accommodate their vehicles. If they have a truck with a high roof or cars with roof racks, then this is going to be very helpful to them. They may also need it if the garage door is an unusual size.
If that’s the case for you, don’t worry. It’s very easy to get just the right size door, so you can take advantage of the extra height or width that it offers you.
Garage Door Thickness
As well as the size of your garage door, you will need to consider the thickness of it. The thickness of the door will impact the price of it, as well as the insulation. In some cases though, thicker isn’t always better. If you don’t use your garage door anything other than storing your car, then you may not need it to be insulated. If you do spend time in there though, that thickness is important.
If you don’t need much insulation, then a steel garage door is often your best bet. These feature panels can be just 1/8 inches thick, and so are very cost-effective. If you do need insulation, you can opt for foam insulation on the inside of those steel panels. If you want the best insulation, pick a door that insulation sandwiched between two panels.
How To Measure Your Garage Door
Now you’re ready to measure your garage door, to see what kind of door you’ll need. There’s a lot more to measure than just the height and width, though. There are other factors that will affect just which door you’ll need. These include:
- Side room
- Headroom
- Depth of garage
When measuring, start with measuring the height and width of the door. This will be your ‘rough opening’, and will usually be the size of the door you need.
You’ll also need to know the side room you have, as there are aspects of the door that need to be installed here. For example, the vertical track system and torsion springs will go here. They normally need around 3 ¾ inches on either side, but some systems need over 5 inches. Keep that in mind when choosing a garage door.
Now measure the headroom, which is the space between the top of the garage door and the ceiling. A standard garage door will need 10 inches of clearance here, while custom doors will need 12 or more inches.
You also need to measure the depth of the garage, also known as the backroom. This is the distance from the garage door opening to the back wall of the garage. You’ll need a backroom that measures the door height plus 18 inches, to allow for the door opening. This may need to be more if you’re adding a garage door opener.
What To Consider When Looking For A New Garage Door
Now you know the measurements of your garage door, you’ll know whether you need a standard or custom door. There are other things that will affect the door that you have installed. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Garage door opening type: How do you want the door to open? Will it simply be an ‘up and over’ type, a sectional door, or a side-hinged door?
- Door materials: There is a huge range of materials you can have your door made from. Steel, aluminum, and wood are all popular choices. All have their positives and negatives, so pick one that’s right for you.
- Automatic garage door openers: Are you looking to have an automatic garage door opener fitted with your new garage door? That’s going to affect the type of door you buy, so keep that in mind.
These are just a few things that you need to think about. If you’re not sure, it’s always a good idea to talk to a garage door installation company. They can give you more information, and help you get what you need.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, there are so many things you need to consider when buying a new garage door. If your door meets the measurements, you can simply buy a standard door. If not, you’ll need a custom door. Both types are simple to get through, so you can get the door that’s right for you.